Thomas Devin

Thomas Devin (10 December 1822-4 April 1878) was a Brigadier-General of the US Army during the American Civil War.

Biography
Thomas Devin was born in New York City, New York on 10 December 1822 to Irish parents, and he came from a family whose ancestors had fought in both the American Revolutionary War and the French and Indian War. He served as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the New York State Militia while working as a painter, and he raised an independent company of cavalry at the start of the American Civil War in 1861. In late 1861, he became the colonel of the 6th New York Volunteer Cavalry, and the regiment's first battles occurred in Maryland in late 1862. He fought at the Battle of Brandy Station in 1863 and led John Buford's division while Buford led the right flank in battle; Devin was unhorsed in that battle. After delaying the arrival of Jubal Early's division at the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, Devin would be granted occasional divisional commands in the Army of the Potomac, taking part in an 1864 raid on Richmond, Virginia before fighting in the Shenandoah. After Wesley Merritt's promotion, Devin was promoted to Brigadier-General by President Abraham Lincoln, who admired his bravery at Cedar Creek. On 12 March 1866, he was promoted to Major-General of volunteers, and he served in the army until his death from stomach cancer in New York City on 4 April 1878 at the age of 55.